Re-Drafting the First Round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 04: Washington Capitals Center Nicklas Backstrom (19) in warm ups prior to the regular season NHL game between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs on April 4, 2017 at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON. (Photo by Gerry Angus/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

With the 2017 NHL Entry Draft Now Over, We Reflect on Draft’s of Year’s Past and Give Them a Re-Do. First Up the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Where Nicklas Backstrom Ends Up in a New Spot.

The 2006 NHL draft was definitely an odd one with a lot of players being taken in the first few rounds who didn’t quite live up to expectations, while the superstars we know of today were taken in later rounds. This actually happens more often than not and we don’t get to see it until years and years later.

Montreal also made a move when they sent their 16th overall pick (Ty Wishart) to San Jose for their 20th pick (David Fischer) and their 53rd pick (Mathieu Carle). Los Angeles joined the fun when they sent Pavol Demitra to Minnesota for Patrick O’Sullivan and their 17th overall pick (Trevor Lewis). And finally one of the worst deals at the draft saw Toronto trade prospect Tuukka Rask to Boston for Andrew Raycroft.

In this re-draft players will be determined by team needs (for the 2017-18 season) and points per game averages, if there is a tie accomplishments will be used to break it. For goaltenders career wins will be used to determine the rankings of said goalies, if two or more goalies have the same amount of wins, accomplishments will be used to break the tie’s as well.

Re-Drafting the First Round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft

The first draft bust of 2006, Matt Corrente didn’t accomplish much in the NHL or AHL for that matter. So what would have been a solid choice for the Devils? Shawn Matthias, as he would have provided the team with a solid third or fourth line center behind Travis Zajac, Adam Henrique, and Nico Hischier.

In this re-draft, Phoenix’s first pick was spent on goaltender Semyon Varlamov. Now if they had selected backup Jhonas Enroth to help him that would have been a solid combo for the team. Instead, they chose Chris Summers, another guy who didn’t quite amount to much.

With Nick Foligno now gone in the re-draft, the Ottawa Senators need to look elsewhere for that additional scoring and tenacity. And Cal Clutterbuck would have been a solid choice to make since he can provide both anywhere from the top line to the fourth.

Ivan Vishnevskiy played a few games in the NHL, but nothing really made him stand out. Andrew MacDonald, on the other hand, has taken some time to grow but has become a top four defenseman, something the Stars really need at this moment in time.

As stated above there were quite a bit of first round busts in 06’ and Leland Irving is another guy who is on that list. If the Calgary Flames drafted Michael Grabner and stayed the course, he would be playing alongside Sam Bennett and Troy Brouwer which is a pretty solid second line.

Now Patrik Berglund has grown into a solid center but due to the re-draft, he’s already gone. So who would have been a solid selection for the Blues at 25? Michal Neuvirth since the team is currently sporting Carter Hutton as a backup.

Dennis Persson is yet another player who didn’t make anything out of his chances. And the Sabres have needed depth scoring for quite some time now. If they had chosen Nikolai Kulemin instead, he would have easily filled a role anywhere in the bottom nine.

Washington’s selection of Varlamov was a great one, but no one got to see how great he was until he left Washington. But since he’s already been selected this leaves Washington with a solid defensive choice in Jeff Petry who could still be playing on the Caps d-core today.

Looking back it’s a mystery how Claude Giroux slipped to 22nd but it could always be worse. The Flyers have needed goaltending help and they went out and acquired Steve Mason to provide that, but he left for Winnipeg, now the team hasBrian Elliott. If Chad Johnson was selected he would have definitely helped the club with a solid backup in times of need.

Bobby Sanguinetti was scouted to be a top tier defenseman which is why he was chosen where he was. But he never lived up to expectations and is now bouncing between the AHL and different European leagues. But today the Rangers do have a solid defense, but what they don’t have is a lot of depth scoring throughout all four lines, Michael Frolik could have provided that.

Yet another 2006 first round bust, David Fischer never made it to the NHL. So as stated before if a re-do was allowed, Mathieu Perreault would have been a solid selection he could have filled a third or fourth line role with the club. And who knows he would probably still be with the Canadiens today.

Mark Mitera is another first round bust from 2006, and what the Ducks need is help on the wings since they have some solid centers in Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, and occasionally Rickard Rakell. Now, if the team had chosen Chris Stewart, he would have brought some second to third line scoring for a team that is thin on the right side after Corey Perry.

Chris Stewart was a decent player for Colorado but wasn’t there long before he was on the move. If the team had selected Artem Anisimov in the first round instead they would have a solid number three center behind Nathan MacKinnon andMatt Duchene.

Trevor Lewis is still playing with the Kings so that says something right there. But with first pick Brad Marchand and now Nick Foligno playing alongside Anze Kopitar, imagine the scoring the Kings would have right now.

Another player who didn’t amount to much in the NHL was defenseman Ty Wishart. The Sharks have a solid center in Joe Thornton and they had one inPatrick Marleau who was moved to the right side before leaving for Toronto. So the selection of Patrik Berglund would have been perfect for a team who really needed a bonafide number two center.

Riku Helenius hasn’t done anything in the NHL so it’s safe to say he’s a first round bust. But in a re-do, the solid choice for the Lightning would be Derick Brassard who would most likely still be playing with the Lightning behind superstar Steven Stamkos to provide a shutdown line.

Another team who needed goaltending help was the Vancouver Canucks, they acquired Roberto Luongo from Florida during the draft but they still needed a solid backup. James Reimer could have been that guy, and what do you know, now Reimer is in Florida.

Jiri Tlusty is another player who didn’t quite live up to draft expectations, that is until he left Toronto. But during that time, the Leafs really needed help down the middle and with the other picks in place, Little would have been their best option.

With Atlanta/Winnipeg’s current goaltending issues if a re-do was allowed Jonathan Bernier might have been a solid selection for the team. Bryan Little has been good but with Mark Scheifele now playing those top line minutes Little has fallen as to where the Thrashers/Jets have always needed a solid goalie.

Now while Jonathan Bernier has won a Stanley Cup with the Kings as a backup goalie due to the emergence of Jonathan Quick. He’s still an alright netminder, but if the team chose Brad Marchand instead, he and Anze Kopitar would be a solid unit for the Kings every single year.

Michael Frolik has been an okay scorer in the NHL despite bouncing around. But what the Panthers have needed help on for quite some time is the blue line and if they had chosen Erik Johnson he would have helped right away. But who knows he could have been traded from there as well.

Phoenix/Arizona is another team that has been hurting in net for quite some time. Now, Varlamov didn’t really grow in Washington which seen him move to Colorado where he finally got comfortable and has been quite solid. With the Yotes rebuilding, if they selected Varlamov in the first round, they wouldn’t have to worry about what they need to do in goal.

It’s no question the Islanders have goaltending issues, and it’s no question that Kyle Okposo has grown into quite the goal scorer. But due to team needs the smart selection if a re-do was allowed would be to select goaltender Steve Mason.

Derick Brassard has grown into a solid shutdown center for the Blue Jackets, Rangers, and Senators. But due to the re-draft Jordan Staal takes his place and that’s a solid playmaking center who would be putting up serious numbers alongside Cam Atkinsonand Nick Foligno.

Kessel was supposed to be a top tier scorer for Boston but ultimately lost him to Toronto before he could really flourish. And while Boston selected Milan Lucic in the second round of this draft, he moves into the first round taking the fifth overall selection.

Now there is nothing wrong with the selection of Nicklas Backstrom for Washington obviously, him andAlex Ovechkin have been a dynamic duo for years. But due to the rules outlined for this re-draft Claude Giroux would be taking his place and that’s still a top tier center to play alongside Ovechkin.

Jonathan Toews is the only player to end back up where he was initially drafted. He’s been one of the best players in the league and along with Patrick Kane, they have helped Chicago reach Stanley Cup glory.

Jordan Staal is a solid center but due to Evgeni Malkinand Sidney Crosby he never really got a chance to shine it Pittsburgh. Now with the Carolina Hurricanes, Staal has been solid playing top line minutes. Now if Pittsburgh had drafted Phil Kessel in the first round instead of acquiring him years later through trade, they probably would have won at least one more Stanley Cup.

Erik Johnson was supposed to fix all of the defensive issues in St. Louis but he never really lived up to expectations and was shipped to Colorado. Now if the team had selected Nicklas Backstrom and everything still went its course, he and Vladimir Tarasenko would be a deadly combo for the team.